Footwear Article with Removable Toe Covering

ABSTRACT

A protective footwear article is provided that has a sole, a shoe upper, and a removable toe cover affixable over the toe box of the footwear article. The forward toe region of the sole includes a leading edge having a recess therealong, while a channel extends laterally across the sole and terminates along the sides thereof. Removably positioned over the toe box of the footwear article is a removable toe cover that has a hardened structure to protect the toes of the wearer. The toe cover further comprises a connecting tab that engages the recess in the sole, and is affixed along the sides of the sole via a securing rod that extends through the toe over and through the channel in the sole. The securing rod is removably secured through the toe cover and the sole after the connecting tab is positioned within the forward recess of the sole.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/200,760 filed on Aug. 4, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to protective footwear. More specifically, the present invention relates to an article of footwear with a protective toe cap that is removable from the toe box of the device and affixable thereto using a securing rod and a connecting tab.

Many environments require protective clothing and/or protective footwear to prevent exposure or injury. In areas with heavy equipment and machinery, protective boots are usually required to protect the wearer from injury caused by a falling object or mishap in which the wearer's toes are pinched by a heavy object. Conventional protective footwear includes boots having a permanent steel plate built in to the toe box of the boot. However, the steel plate is generally not removable from the boot in order to use the boot in a more casual, everyday environment.

The present invention provides an article of footwear that protects the toes of a user from injury caused by heavy objects contacting the toe box of the wearer. In particular, the present invention provides a boot with a removable protective toe cover that can be operably disposed over the toe box of the boot and secured thereto using attachment hardware. The toe cover is a curved member that forms over the toe box and one that comprises a hardened structure that resists deformation under high loads or impacts. The toe cover secures to the sole of the boot using a forward connecting tab and a securing rod that extends through the sole of the boot. In this way, the toe box of the boot can be protected by the toe cover while at a work site, and removed or replaced as desired by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is intended solely for the benefit of the reader and is not intended to be limiting in any way. The present invention provides a new protective footwear article that can be utilized for protecting the toes of a wearer by providing a removable toe cover over the toe box of the footwear article.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved protective footwear article that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective footwear article that comprises removable toe cover.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article that comprises a sole having a forward toe region, a sole thickness, a first side and a second side. The footwear article is a shoe or boot with a shoe upper and a toe box disposed above the sole, whereby the toe box is adapted to receive the toes of a wearer's foot therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article in which the forward toe region of the sole further comprises a leading edge, the leading edge having a recess therealong.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article that comprises a sole with a channel extending laterally across the sole, whereby the channel terminates at a first opening along the first side of the sole and at a second opening along the second side of the sole. The channel supports a removable securing rod that affixes the rear of a removable toe cover to the sole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article that comprises a removable toe cover adapted to form over the toe box and be positioned above the forward toe region of the sole. The toe cover comprises a curved surface with an open interior, a forward portion, a rear edge, and a lower edge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article that comprises a connecting tab extending inwardly from the forward portion of the toe cover, whereby the connecting tab is adapted to be received by the recess in the forward toe region of the sole and secure the forward portion of the toe cover thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article that comprises a pair of aligned toe cover apertures disposed along the lower edge of the toe cover. The aligned toe cover apertures align with the first opening and the second opening of the channel in the sole when the toe cover is placed over the toe box.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article that further comprises a securing rod sized to be received through the channel and the aligned toe cover apertures of the toe cover. The securing rod removably secures the toe cover to the sole after the connecting tab is positioned within the recess in the forward toe region of the sole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article wherein the channel and the recess connect within the sole and along the forward toe region of the sole to form a T-shaped member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article wherein the recess further comprises an aperture through the forward toe region of the sole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article wherein the recess further comprises an exposed ledge along the forward toe region of the sole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article wherein the recess further comprises an elongated slot along the forward toe region of the sole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article whereby the connecting rod further comprises a shank, a head, and a threaded end. The shank of the connecting rod is sized to be received within the channel of the sole, while the head is adapted to bear against one side of the toe cover. A threaded nut secures to the threaded end of the connecting rod and bears against a second side of the toe cover to secure the toe cover to the sole of the shoe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article wherein the toe cover further comprises a lower edge in which a pair of opposing tabs extend downwardly therefrom. Each of the aligned toe cover apertures are disposed on the opposing tabs and receive the connecting rod therethrough.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article wherein the toe cover further comprises a lower edge and the connecting tab extends inwardly in substantially the same plane as the lower edge of the toe cover.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective footwear article wherein the toe cover is formed of a steel material.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of the protective footwear article of the present invention with the toe cover attached over the toe box of the footwear article.

FIG. 2A shows an embodiment of the toe cover attachment disposed within the sole of the footwear article.

FIG. 2B shows another embodiment of the toe cover attachment disposed within the sole of the footwear article.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the toe cover of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an underside view of the toe cover of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the protective footwear article of the present invention. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for providing a footwear article having a separate toe cover &fixable thereto and removable therefrom. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the protective footwear article of the present invention. The footwear article is one of a shoe, boot, or other footwear item that is worn on the feet of the wearer and includes a sole 20, a toe box 51, and a shoe upper 50. The sole 20 of the shoe extends along the length of the shoe and is disposed along the lower surface thereof, supporting the sole of the wearer's foot and providing a barrier between the ground and the foot. Along the toe box 51 of the shoe is a protective cover 60, which is operably removable from the toe box 51 and affixable thereto using a sole connection system and removable attachment hardware.

The removable toe cover 60 of the present invention is adapted to form over the toe box 51 of the shoe and be positioned above the forward toe region 21 of the sole 20. The forward toe region 21 of the sole 20 is located below the toe box 51 and comprises a leading edge 22 that is used to connect the toe cover 60 to the sole 20 of the shoe. In particular, the removable toe cover 60 has a curved upper surface with an open interior, a forward portion, a rear edge 63, and a lower edge 62. Along the lower edge 62 and along the forward portion of the cover 60 is a connecting tab 61 that extends inwardly therefrom. The connecting tab 61 is a flange or similar extension that is generally in plane with the lower edge 62 of the cover 60 and is adapted to engage a recess 30 within the leading edge 22 of the sole 20. The connection between the connecting tab 61 and the leading edge 22 of the sole 20 retains the lower edge 62 of the cover against the leading edge 22 of the sole 20, while the rear of the cover 60 is supported by removable attachment hardware.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there are shown views of the footwear article of the present invention, including embodiments of the toe cover 60 and the attachment system between the toe cover 60 and the footwear article. The toe cover 60 is composed of a rigid material that resists deformation under impact loading, such as steel, composite material, or equivalent material suitable for hardened tip boots. The toe cover 60 is adapted to form over the exterior of the toe box 51 of the shoe such that the toe cover is positioned above the forward toe region 21 of the sole 20. In this manner, the toe cover 60 forms over the toes of the wearer's foot and over the exterior of the shoe. In addition, the sole 20 of the shoe includes forward toe region 21, a sole thickness 25, a first side 28 and a second side 29. The sole 20 and the toe cover 60 are affixable to one another such that the toe cover 60 can be operably deployed over the toe box 51 of the shoe and removed therefrom when the protective toe cover 20 is not desired.

The leading edge 22 of the sole 20 supports the forward lower edge of the toe cover 60 when attached to the shoe. In particular, the leading edge 22 of the sole 20 comprises a recess 30 therealong that extends inward from the leading edge. The recess 30 may take on several forms, and may include an aperture extending into the sole, a channel extending therein, a ledge formed along the leading edge of the sole, or an elongated slot along the leading edge. The recess 30 is a formation in the leading edge 22 of the sole 20 that is adapted to support the inwardly directed connecting tab 61 of the toe cover 60, which extends inward toward the interior of the toe cover from the interior surface thereof. The recess 30 prevents the toe cover 60 from lifting upwards from the leading edge 22 of the sole, while the rear of the toe cover 60 is supported by removable hardware. Therefore, a ledge, aperture, slot, or equivalent structure may be used to prevent the forward portion of the cover and the connecting tab 61 from lifting upwards. Several embodiments are disclosed herein.

Along the sole 20 is a channel 70 that extends laterally thereacross. The channel terminates at a first opening 71 along the first side 28 of the sole and at a second opening 72 along the second side 29 of the sole. The channel 70 is adapted to align with a pair of apertures 77 positioned through the sidewalls of the toe cover 60, whereby a securing rod 79 can be positioned through the channel 70 and the apertures 77 to secure the rear portion of the cover 60 to the shoe. The pair of aligned toe cover apertures 77 is disposed along the lower edge 62 of the toe cover 60 and preferably along the rear portion thereof (i.e. close to the intersection of the rear edge 63 and the lower edge 62 of the cover). The toe cover apertures 77 align with the first 71 and second 72 openings of the channel 70 when the toe cover 60 is placed over the toe box 51 of the shoe.

When aligned, the securing rod 79 is inserted through the apertures 77 and the channel 70. The securing rod 79 is an elongated rod sized to be received through the channel 70 and the aligned toe cover apertures 77 of the toe cover 60. The securing rod 79 therefore allows the toe cover 60 to be removably secured to the sole 20 after the connecting tab 61 is positioned within the recess 30 along the forward toe region 21 of the sole 20. To prevent the securing rod 79 from moving once placed through the apertures 77 of the cover 60 and the channel 70 of the sole 20, the securing rod preferably has a fastener head along a first end and a removable nut 78 along a second end. The fastener head prevents the first end of the securing rod 79 from being pulled through the channel once the first end is flush thereagainst, while the removable nut 78 affixes to the second end along an opposite side of the sole 20. The second end of the securing rod 79 is preferably a threaded shank that is threadably engaged by the nut 78. This secures the rear 63 of the cover while the connecting tab 61 maintains the front 67 of the cover.

The channel 70 through the sole 20 is an opening that extends from a first side 28 of the sole to the second side 29 and is preferably a continuous opening therethrough. Alternatively, the channel 70 may comprise two channels extends partially into the sole from each side, whereby a pair of securing rods 79 are used to the cover 60. In this embodiment, each connecting rod secures a side of the cover, whereby the connecting rods individually affix to the sole of the shoe using a threaded connecting within the interior of the sole. However, in a preferred embodiment, the channel 70 extends laterally across the sole and forms a continuous opening such that a single securing rod 79 can be placed through the sole 20. The securing rod 79 in this embodiment comprises a shank, a fastener head end, and a threaded end. The shank of the connecting rod 79 is sized to be received through the channel 70 of the sole and through the apertures 77 of the toe cover 60. The fastener head is adapted to bear against one side of the toe cover 60 while a threaded nut is adapted to secure to the threaded end of the connecting rod 79 and bear against a second side of the toe cover.

Additionally, in certain embodiments the forward recess 30 and the channel 70 are connected along the interior of the sole 20. As shown in FIG. 2A, the channel 70 and recess 30 form a T-shaped member within the interior of the sole and along the forward toe region thereof. The forward recess 30 comprises an aperture or slot that extends 40 from the leading edge 22 of the sole 20 and enters the sole interior until abutting against the channel 70 at an intersection point 72. This may be useful for longer connecting tabs and shorter distances between the leading edge 22 of the sole and the channel 70. In another embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 2B, the forward recess 30 is a slot, aperture, or ledge that is formed along the leading edge 22 of the sole and does not connect with the channel 70. In this embodiment, the forward recess 30 does not intersect with the channel 70 and the two are distinct structures.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the toe cover 60 may additionally have a pair of opposing tabs 64 along the lower edge 62 thereof. The pair of opposing tabs 64 extend downwardly from the lower edge 62 and support the aligned toe cover apertures 77 of the cover therethrough. This allows the apertures, and thus the securing rod, to be positioned through the cover at a position below the lower edge 62 of the cover where the tabs may be flatter than the sides of the cover. Alternatively, the apertures may be disposed through the sides of the cover and above the lower edge 62, eliminating the need for additional tabs 64 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Overall, the present invention provides a shoe or article of footwear with a removable protective toe cover. The protective toe cover is a protective cover that corresponds to the shape of the toe box of a shoe. The cover is composed of a hard, durable material, such as steel, whereby that the cover is adapted to protect a wearer's toes from injury in the event of a heavy piece of equipment falling thereon or rolling thereover. The cover is removably secured to the shoe along its forward end by the connecting, which is an inwardly directed flange that engages the leading edge of the sole. The cover is further secured to the shoe sole via a securing rod that extends laterally through the sole and engages a pair of apertures disposed through the sides of the cover, whereby the rod is fastened thereto.

It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) A shoe having a removable toe cover, comprising: a sole comprising a forward toe region, a sole thickness, a first side and a second side; a shoe upper and a toe box disposed above the sole; the toe box adapted to receive the toes of a wearer's foot therein; the forward toe region of the sole further comprising a leading edge, the leading edge having a recess therealong; a channel extending laterally across the sole, whereby the channel terminates at a first opening along the first side and at a second opening along the second side of the sole; a removable toe cover adapted to form over the toe box and be positioned above the forward toe region of the sole; the toe cover comprising a curved surface with an open interior, a forward portion, a rear edge, and a lower edge; a connecting tab extending inwardly from the forward portion of the toe cover, whereby the connecting tab is adapted to be received by the recess in the forward toe region of the sole; a pair of aligned toe cover apertures disposed along the lower edge of the toe cover; the aligned toe cover apertures aligning with the first opening and the second opening of the channel when the toe cover is placed over the toe box; a securing rod sized to be received through the channel and the aligned toe cover apertures of the toe cover; whereby the securing rod is adapted to removably secure the toe cover to the sole after the connecting tab is positioned within the recess in the forward toe region of the sole. 2) The shoe of claim 1, wherein: the channel and the recess connect within the sole and along the forward toe region of the sole to form a T-shaped member. 3) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the recess further comprises an aperture through the forward toe region of the sole. 4) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the recess further comprises an exposed ledge along the forward toe region of the sole. 5) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the recess further comprises an elongated slot along the forward toe region of the sole. 6) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the connecting rod further comprises: a shank, a head, and a threaded end; wherein the shank of the connecting rod is sized to be received within the channel of the sole; wherein the head is adapted to bear against one side of the toe cover; and a threaded nut is adapted to secure to the threaded end of the connecting rod and bear against a second side of the toe cover. 7) The shoe of claim 1, wherein: the toe cover further comprises a lower edge; wherein the toe cover further comprises a pair of opposing tabs extending downwardly from the lower edge; and wherein each of the aligned toe cover apertures are disposed on one of the opposing tabs. 8) The shoe of claim 1, wherein: the toe cover further comprises a lower edge; and wherein the connecting tab extends inwardly and in substantially the same plane as the lower edge of the toe cover. 9) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the toe cover is formed of a steel material. 